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Total Members Voted: 7

Voting closed: February 05, 2011, 03:28:32 pm

[Deadmeat1471]

Mission to Mars



Ok so a few of us had the idea after playing Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space that a forum game based on a race to mars might be a good idea. I think there was consensus in emulating the system that BARIS used for the rockets was reasonable.

Rules & game start!
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=75391.msg1941045#msg1941045

[Deadmeat1471]

A decent article, It pretty much supports what I assumed, and offers some interesting aspects I hadnt thought of. Such as sustained low gravity living.
I'll be studying up on my Mars colonisation theory this week and seeing whats what.

http://www.themartian.net/missions/future/to-boldly-go-a-one-way-human-mission-to-mars.html

[Deadmeat1471]

Off the top of my head some missions that could be chosen:

Martian unmanned resupply
Martian Manned supply (with more crew)
Terraforming attempt
Mars orbital research base
Orbital communications relay?
Manned Martian flyby? dont like this one, however it does offer an alternative to conventional 'one way trip' theory.
Manned Martial landing (landing only)
Manned Martian outpost (landing and setting up temporary outpost)
Manned Martian construction (dropping construction materials for larger more perminant settlement)
Manned MEM tests
Manned EVA/EVA repairs practice (required for long journey)
Joint manned Martian landing  One ship follows to point its fuel can support, transfers all its supplys to the main ship and turns back? I dont forsee this being much of an option.

[Deadmeat1471]

BARIS had the following skills:

Capsule
EVA
LEM
Docking
Endurance

For mars id suggest this:

Split crew into military and civilian. Civilian would be things like - scientist/engineer/botanist
Military would handle space flight and operations as in BARIS
Moral would also be effected IN MISSION as opposed to only between missions as in baris. Making the potential for jobs such as Psychologist needed on board?

[Deadmeat1471]

For a ship idea, i'd like to allow it open to the imagination. For example you would need a propulsion device to get from earth orbit to mars. I would use a disposable rocket booster to do this, and have a second/second pair? for the mid course correction. These would carry the massive thrust needed to propel a ship of its size from here to Mars, while maintaining a ??Service module?? thruster for normal activities.

In game terms this would mean I would have 1 or 2 deadweight 'Kickers' (BARIS terminology) which would be used to break earth orbit and enter the lunar only. Also id have the service module, the LEM's etc. Each would be researched/designed based on moneys spent.

It may be more efficient to use the 'weight' of the kicker and simply have a much larger service module engine. One which can perform not only TMI burns but the standard manoevers too. However the Main engine would not be used once earth orbit was broken, unless a mission abort was planned.

[mainiac]

What is the part you have in mind?  Low Earth Orbit to Mars direct?  Invent a space elevator first?  Moon Base first?

[forsaken1111]

Posting to watch. Will read/contribute soon.

[MonkeyHead]

Possibility of lagrange points used as resupply points? Send off unmanned craft (like ESA's ATV) to "wait" at one, which the manned craft could dock with to resupply at? would save having large hold space for 10 month or so's worth of supplies...

[mainiac]

How does the escape velocity of a lagrange point compare to a terran or lunar orbit?

[Deadmeat1471]

Am liking monkeys idea. I need to look into it.

@ Mainiac - I'm guessing, a Lunar base established, established but small. Earth launched modules to dock with construction base (Think ISS but bigger), then a undock/earth orbit - mars orbit injection. Thats my first thinking anyway. But hopefully I (we) can create a system which would allow people to be open minded in their choices somewhat.

[Deadmeat1471]

http://www.physorg.com/news174031552.html

Plasma engine, possible technology for MtM?

[forsaken1111]

Make it a choice for the nations. Include the good old Orion engine in there as well.

New unproven tech would have a higher chance of breaking down but an overall better result, perhaps a lower travel time.

[Deadmeat1471]

More advanced tech would be naturally harder/more expensive to research, agreed.

[Deadmeat1471]

Just read a NASA article, it states the route to Mars would probably be:

26 months prior to crew departure from earth, predeploy:
-Mars surface habitat land to Mars orbit.
-Mars ascent vehicle and exploration gear to Martian surface.
-Deployment of initial exploration assets.
-Production of ascent propellant (oxygen) prior to crew departure from earth.

Six crew travel on 'fast' 6 month trajectory:
-Reduces risk associated with zero-g radiation.
-Rendezvous with surface habitat lander in mars orbit.
-Crew lands in surface habitat which becomes part of mars infrastructure.
-Sufficient habitation and exploration resources for 18 month stay.

[Deadmeat1471]

Picture of Ares V, craft i'm currently reading about with view to Mars landing.